Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

It was a small jade piece, about two fingers square, entirely crimson like a flame, with a warm and translucent texture, and seemingly containing a crimson glow within, shimmering with light.

The jade blank is naturally shaped and uncarved, yet it possesses a vibrant and spirited charm.

Although it is not as grand and imposing as the Fire Bell Divine Seal, with its strict authority, it is more pure and restrained, containing infinite possibilities.

Gu Fuzi handed it to Chen Jiao and said:

"These seal blanks are all made from the finest materials selected from thousands of others, and they contain spiritual essence."

This piece contains a wisp of pure fire essence, brimming with vitality.

To be honest, when I first obtained this material, I considered carving a fire dragon seal to correspond with the image of the Bing fire element.

However, after repeated deductions, it always felt that there was plenty of grandeur but not enough flexibility.

Then I thought of the Fire Crow Seal, which, by taking the essence of the sun, might be more lively. However, I felt that it was not quite right and could not fully express the essence of this jade.

Therefore, for many years, no surgery has been performed, and it has been temporarily shelved.

Gu Fuzi watched Chen Jiao take the jade blank and shook his head, saying:

"The blank of the seal is different from the finished seal. It needs to be nurtured and soaked by the cultivator with his own divine will and magic power over a long period of time."

Once its spirituality is fully integrated with one's own, and the inscriptions that align with the path of Tao are engraved, it can gradually manifest spiritual responses and become a method seal.

"In such a hasty situation, how could it be used? It's merely a piece of jade containing fire elemental energy; it's utterly incapable of serving as a seal for solidifying a talisman."

Song An watched, holding his breath, and couldn't help but lean closer to Song Yan, whispering in a low voice:

"Senior brother, is the master going to carve the seal inscription on the spot? But didn't the sect leader say that the seal blank needs to be nurtured for a long time?"

Song Yan's gaze was fixed on Chen Jiao's hand holding the seal. Upon hearing this, he slowly shook his head and whispered:

"What the Pavilion Master says is certainly true."

The spirit of a blank is not yet determined, like the beginning of chaos. If a knife and pen are suddenly used to forcibly imbue it with form and meaning, it is very easy to damage its true spirit and even destroy the material.

However…

He paused, then spoke even softer.

"The actions of a true person are often unexpected, yet they seem to conform to profound truths."

Our cultivation is too shallow for us to fathom; let us observe quietly and perhaps we can glimpse a trace of its mystery.

Upon hearing this, Song An nodded vigorously, his eyes wide open, not daring to miss a single detail.

Chen Jiao, holding the red jade seal blank, nodded slightly to the ancient talisman, his tone calm:

"The Pavilion Master's words are wise and prudent, and every word is reasonable. I will keep them in mind. However, I have some rudimentary understanding of fire magic."

This jade blank contains pure fire essence, its nature is active yet restrained, endlessly regenerating, and it may have some natural affinity with me.

"Perhaps I could try taking a slightly faster route."

Having said that, he offered no further explanation, but instead brought his five fingers together and gently held the crimson jade embryo in his palm.

Then, Chen Jiao lowered his eyelids slightly, parted his lips slightly, and slowly exhaled a breath into his closed fist.

A ball of crimson fire instantly enveloped the entire palm!

A fiery Daoist aura, intense yet subtly imbued with a sacred and lofty meaning, surged forth like a torrent or the rising sun, spreading out with a thunderous roar!

The already heavy air on the second floor suddenly became thick and scorching.

The three of them, including Master Shouyue, felt a jolt in their minds, and their internal magical power involuntarily surged slightly, as if they were being intimidated by an invisible pressure.

The three men's expressions changed, and they subconsciously took several steps back before regaining their footing, their eyes filled with shock.

Although they knew that Master Jiangxiao's fire magic was profound, they never expected that his fire energy was so pure and vast!

Gu Fuzi stared intently at Chen Jiao's hand, which was enveloped in crimson fire, with his eyes wide open.

His eyes gleamed with a fierce light, as if he wanted to etch every flicker of the flame into his heart.

However, what was only a dozen or so breaths felt like an eternity to them.

The clear, melodious cry of a phoenix faintly came from the depths of the flames, penetrating the pavilion, seemingly both near and far.

Chen Jiao suddenly spread his five fingers.

The crimson flame in his palm immediately receded inward, disappearing completely into the jade embryo, leaving not a trace of smoke or fire behind, as if the mind-shaking flames from before were merely an illusion.

Everyone looked closely and saw that the seal embryo had changed drastically.

Still crimson and warm, it has transformed into a delicate and exquisite formal Dharma seal, radiating inner brilliance.

The seal knob was no longer chaotic; it was now clearly a magnificent vermilion bird, poised to take flight.

Every detail of its feathers is vividly depicted, its eyes gleam with divine light, and it is incredibly lifelike. An invisible aura of elegance, nobility, and dominance over all fire naturally emanates from it.

On the bottom of the seal, eight ancient and profound seal characters, imbued with Taoist charm, are clearly visible:

"By imperial decree of the Crimson Heaven, all fires shall return to their true form!"

The eight-character seal script is vigorous and powerful, with a faint red light flowing endlessly deep within the characters, exuding a vast artistic conception of commanding all fires and returning to one's true nature.

Although the small seal was placed quietly in Chen Jiao's palm, the fire elemental energy that had been wandering around it seemed to be summoned and spontaneously gathered to surround the seal, adding to its mystique.

Gu Fuzi stared blankly at the fire seal, his lips slightly parted, speechless for a moment.

He had immersed himself in the art of talismans and artifacts for countless years and had seen countless refining techniques, but he had never seen such a... effortless, almost enlightening way of creating seals.

The true fire energy not only did not damage the spiritual essence of the seal embryo, but seemed to embody the supreme true meaning of the fiery path.

By "consecrating," "shaping," and "infusing" it with a soul, it instantly achieves the state of spiritual self-generation that ordinary cultivators would need decades or even centuries to cultivate!

He staggered half a step, instinctively clenching his fists tightly.

"So that's how it is! So that's how it is! It's neither a violent, outwardly displaying fire dragon, nor a crow that merely takes the essence of the sun."

The fire essence contained within this jade is of the highest and noblest nature, and its meaning is endless, nurturing and governing...

Only the Vermilion Bird, the essence of the South, the ancestor of the Fire element, and the supreme ruler of all fires, can fully unleash and resonate with its profound meaning!

Gu Fuzi suddenly raised his head and looked at Chen Jiao, his eyes filled with complex and indescribable emotions.

"How come I never thought of this detail back then?"

No... what's the use of even if I thought of it?

The Vermilion Bird was one of the four ancient mythical creatures, long since vanished from the world. Its form is easy to imitate, but its spirit is hard to find.

Without the guidance of true spirit and divine essence, even the most skillful craftsmanship can only create an empty shell, merely possessing the form, and where would the essence of returning to the origin of all things come from?

Completely absorbed in his own world, Gu Fuzi couldn't resist asking Chen Jiao for the newly formed Vermilion Bird Seal, wanting to examine it closely.

Chen Jiao smiled slightly and did not refuse, gently placing the small seal in his palm.

He held the ancient talisman in both hands as if it were a rare treasure, bringing it close to his eyes, even his breathing became soft.

His eyes were wide open, gleaming with a mixture of fascination and awe, and he murmured involuntarily:

"Wonderful, wonderful!

The movement of the feathers, the concentration of divine intent... it's all perfectly natural, without a trace of artifice.

It's as if the fire essence within this jade spontaneously realized its own power and transformed into this Vermilion Bird.

This...this is simply a feat that rivals the creation of heaven and earth, wondrous, truly wondrous...

a long time.

Gu Fuzi seemed to awaken from a deep dream, raised his head, looked at Chen Jiao, and spoke with utmost solemnity:

"Sir, does this seal have a name?"

Chen Jiao pondered for a moment.

This seal was born from the true fire of his mind, commanding all fires to return to their true nature. It is both an extension of the name "Jiangxiao" and a manifestation of his path as the Vermilion Bird incarnation.

The name must embody this sentiment.

After a moment, he had an idea and said:

"This seal was born from the fire of my heart, and I command all fires to return to their original nature."

It was then called the "Crimson Heaven Heart Fire Seal".

Dan symbolizes his pure and sincere origin, like the essence of fire; Xiao refers to the nine heavens and also alludes to the name Jiangxiao.

The heart fire is the fundamental true qi that nourishes life and governs all fires.

Upon hearing this, Gu Fuzi's hand holding the magic seal trembled slightly again, and he repeatedly murmured the five words:

"The Heartfire Seal of Crimson Heaven... A loyal heart reflects the heavens, true fire refines true talismans—a fine name!"